WIMBLEDON, England – Lest anyone forget that Roger Federer has, indeed, lost at Wimbledon, the BBC filled time during a rain delay Wednesday by rolling tape of his 2002 first-round exit against Mario Ancic.

That, of course, was the last time Federer stepped on a court at the All England Club – or anywhere on grass, for that matter – and walked away without winning.

Once Wednesday’s weather cleared, Federer faced Ancic on Centre Court once more, only this time they were playing in the 2008 quarterfinals, and it was no contest whatsoever. The top-ranked Federer dismissed Ancic, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 to extend all manner of streaks: 39 consecutive wins at Wimbledon, 64 consecutive wins on grass, and 17 consecutive semifinal appearances at Grand Slam tournaments.

There were other numbers at which to marvel, not the least of which was this: Federer won 61 of 71 points on his serve.

If anyone wondered whether the thumping he took from Rafael Nadal in last month’s French Open final might have a lasting effect on Federer, it sure doesn’t sound as though there’s anything wrong with his confidence – particularly here.

Federer is trying to become the first man since 1886 to win Wimbledon six years in a row. The only man who did? Willie Renshaw, and he only needed to win one match in each of his five title defenses because the reigning champion got a bye into the final.

Federer is forced to navigate a tougher path, and the expectation has been that he will face Nadal in a third consecutive Wimbledon championship match. The second-ranked Nadal moved closer to that by overwhelming 12th-seeded Andy Murray, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 for his 22nd consecutive win overall.

Nadal will face an unseeded player next, but he doesn’t know which one. The quarterfinal between 94th-ranked Rainer Schuettler and 145th-ranked Arnaud Clement was suspended because of darkness at one set apiece.